Webcomics Dissected 161
ReverendLoki writes "The Webcomics Examiner has a story in their latest issue on The Artistic History of Webcomics, in which they examine and dissect how many of your favorite webcomics have evolved over the years and attempts to discern where they exist in the grand scheme of the webcomics universe. Expect to find some pretty insightful commentary on the likes of Sluggy Freelance, PvP, MegaTokyo, and the ever-present Penny Arcade, as well as others. An excellent analysis on how these comics work." From the piece: "The nerd's enthusiasm and experiences as an 'early adopter' of technological trends is easily translated into a revenue source for new cultural trends like the webcomic. This shows most clearly in the way that the super stars of the webcomic world have fairly consistently been the geekiest of the geekiest -- Penny Arcade, PVP, User Friendly, 8-bit Theatre, and yes, Dilbert."
Geekiest of them all? (Score:1, Informative)
WARNING for those of a nervous disposition: BRUCE PERENS IS DEAD [geekz.co.uk].
Well... (Score:1)
Not unless they... (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Not unless they... (Score:1)
That would have been funny ... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Humor (Score:1)
Re:Humor (Score:2)
Pokey (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Pokey (Score:2, Informative)
MOD PARENT UP -- OR GET ATTACKED BY ITALIANS! (Score:5, Funny)
I totally fucking agree. Pokey, despite its sporadic-at-best update schedule, is one of the extremely few comics actually worth reading, especially after seven years of publication. But more importantly, it's pretty much the only webcomic with a fundamentally creative concept behind it. There are tons of dumb webcomics out there with believable characters, consistent and coherent storylines, good graphics, and actual punchlines. But it gets old after a while. (The uninitiated may think I'm being sarcastic, but I swear I'm not. I get jokes, I can see the point, I just don't usually laugh at them. Yet there's something inexplicably hilarious about Pokey, which some people immediately recognize, but which totally eludes most people.) Like the Dada movement, which rebelled against everything art meant to people, Pokey creates its own art form by rebelling against everything mainstream comics stand for. Examples, as above: believable characters, coherent storylines, good graphics, and typical jokes with punclines (or at least attempts at jokes). By swearing off all this, Pokey concocts a truly original style of humour. It irreverently omits everything associated with typical humour, yet it makes its thousands of fans laugh hysterically, episode after episode. Pokey is the anti-comic. Pokey is the Lucifer rebelling against the God of mainstream comics, and offering comic enlightenment to man. No, I take that back, Pokey is God, and The Authors are His prophet, and all those other comics are false idols.
Of course, by now, Pokey's influence is so widespread that people don't appreciate its achievements. It's true. Sure there are a few things that are obviously Pokey parodies or bootlegs, most of them mediocre at best such as the ever-lame Prodley the Puffin, but it truly has affected the collective consciousness of the comic universe. Whenever you see a comic which intentionally lacks a typical punchline yet seems oddly amusing, or which features a recurring but nonsensical pattern, or is simply surreal and beyond explanation, remember that Pokey brought you that. However indirectly, over his seven years in the spotlight, this little pixellated penguin and his poorly-drawn pals in the Arctic Circle have had a profound impact on the world of webcomics. And nobody should forget that. I for one would like to offer Pokey and his pals a grand HOORAY!
Bassoon! Bassoon! (Score:2)
I've been a longtime fan of Pokey as well. I need to get a Mr. Nutty Warmth Sheath.
My SECOND favorite dadaist webcomic though has to be Listening to 11.975Mhz [succubi.org]. I love the Crumb-esque elements combined with the cute girls. XD
COOKIE! (Score:3, Informative)
Ooh, [Listening to 11.975Mhz] = I like it! Thanks muchly for the linkage.
It is inducing gigglement, and the cute girls make it worthwhile. :D But it does not immediately strike me as brilliant in the same way as Pokey does. 11.975Mhz seems to be more silliness/randomness based. I can appreciate silliness and randomness, but I see some major distinction between that and Pokey's style. Words fail me, however, in actually explaining this distinction. What do you think?
I also recommend Farchie Archie [keenspace.com], Spamu [spamusement.com]
Re:COOKIE! (Score:2)
(Sorry for late response, I do follow up on replies eventually)
11.975 the old version has ended. The author now makes a new one with actual dialogue. ^^; I think it's lost some of its charm. On the other hand, it's still random and goofy. xD
Hm and I think Pokey makes a bit more sly commentary under its randomness... Pokey also appears to be rather mean-spirited sometimes. xD Finally, the author of Pokey spends way less time on his art. These are all reasons to love Pokey of course. =3
Re:MOD PARENT UP -- OR GET ATTACKED BY ITALIANS! (Score:3, Interesting)
I understand that Pokey the Penguin did not introduce non-sequiturs as a comic technique. But it's really much deeper than MSPaint + penguins + non-sequiturs. It's hard to explain... but... um, I assert that it is much deeper. Take my word for it or don't, but whatever it is about Pokey, something strikes me as being sheer brilliance, far beyond simply stacking one non-sequitur upon another. I know of many other non-sequitur-oriented comics, such as Zippy the Pinhead, and I usually just don't find them as b
Re:MOD PARENT UP -- OR GET ATTACKED BY ITALIANS! (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:MOD PARENT UP -- OR GET ATTACKED BY ITALIANS! (Score:2)
BURMA!
Re:Pokey (Score:1)
but what about newer webcomics? (Score:5, Informative)
- toothpaste for dinner [toothpastefordinner.com]
- natalie dee [nataliedee.com]
- white ninja comics [whiteninjacomics.com]
- questionable content [questionablecontent.net]
- diesel sweeties [dieselsweeties.com]
Re:but what about newer webcomics? (Score:1)
PA, VGcats and Lil' Gamers - what more do you need?
Re: (Score:2, Troll)
Webcomics that don't suck (Score:1)
PBF is really good, another quasi-web comic (syndicated in alternative weeklies, I think) which is in its league is Tom the Dancing Bug.
As far as web-only comics go, though, Achewood [achewood.com] is where it's at. (But you have to put a little time into the archives before its genius becomes clear.) And if you ca
Re:but what about newer webcomics? (Score:1)
Re:but what about newer webcomics? (Score:2)
"What is the opposite of cargo shorts, is it cargo longs or passenger shorts"
The rest don't get any better. But the really sad part is, that's not the worst webcomic out there.
There are several that are genuinely funny: Scary-Go-Round (and Bobbins before that), Diesel Sweeties, Something Positive, Narbonic, Ubersoft, Bruno the Bandit and others that escape my mind right now.
And then there are some that are neither funny, nor original. Not to ment
Re:but what about newer webcomics? (Score:1)
Re:but what about newer webcomics? (Score:1)
Re:but what about newer webcomics? (Score:2)
No Doctor Fun? (Score:5, Informative)
Sad.
Re:No Doctor Fun? (Score:2)
Re:No Doctor Fun? (Score:1)
I only know this because right now I'm addicted to the author's current endeavor, a "programmer/software office" oriented webcomic called Bug Bash (www.bugbash.net). In my opinion, currently the best "laugh out loud" type webcomic on the internet.
-jc
---------
Track 300+ Webcomics
www.comicjunkie.com
Re:No Doctor Fun? (Score:3, Informative)
From the FAQ:
Is Doctor Fun the oldest comic on the Internet?
No. That would be "Where the Buffalo Roam" [shadowculture.com]
by Hans Bjordahl. "Where the Buffalo Roam" started in 1991, and had its
own Usenet group long before Doctor Fun came along, and is still
running on the web.
Was Doctor Fun the first cartoon on the World Wide Web?
There you go! You've got it - Doctor Fun was the first cartoon on the World Wide Web.
Here's the announcement [uiuc.edu] from NCSA. (Of course, that l
My fave.. (Score:1)
Re:My fave.. (Score:2)
http://www.undefined.net.nyud.net:8090/1/0/ [nyud.net]
Obligatory wiki LiNK:
http://en.wikipedia.org/ [wikipedia.org]
Re:My fave.. (Score:1)
Least I could do (Score:2, Interesting)
http://www.leasticoulddo.com/ [leasticoulddo.com]
Re:Least I could do (Score:2, Funny)
Here's every LICD comic ever made:
Frame 1
Rayne: I'm awesome. The greatest. A sex god. My penis is huge.
Frame 2
Someone Else: No you're not, no you're not, no you're not, and no it isn't.
Rayne: Yes, I am, and I will prove it
Frame 3
*Rayne does something*
Frame 4
Hot Girl [in bed naked]: Wow, that was amazing.
Rayne [also in bed naked]: Yeah, I know. I'm the greatest.
the noob roxxors lololol! ;-) (Score:4, Informative)
http://www.thenoobcomic.com/ [thenoobcomic.com] (Coral) [nyud.net]
Your typical noob in your typical MMORPG.
The part about the fabled orb of power [nyud.net] was hilarious (be sure to read the scenes after).
Don't forget... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Don't forget... (Score:1)
Re:Don't forget... (Score:2)
Its different and great, although just to rarely updated.
Re:Don't forget... (Score:2)
Sorry, I'll always think of it as "The Thin H Line". But I agree, one of the best out there. Oddly, I consider the total NSFW-ness of it almost irrelevant to the humor, but not gratuitous fan-service (Hmm, that sounds like a contradiction, but I stand by it).
But since this seems to have devolved into a "my favorite webcomics" listing, I might as well plug my personal favorite...
Unicorn Jelly [unicornjelly.com], by Jennifer Diane Reitz (You might recognize the name from the credit
Thanks (Score:2)
Re:Thanks (Score:2)
then why did you need
Re:Thanks (Score:2)
Re:Thanks (Score:2)
Amusingly enough, I am 99% sure the story submitter found this article via Penny Arcade. Gabe links to it in todays news article, saying: "Overall the article treats us extremely well. Probably better than we deserve." That said, the comic history article really is awesome. I'm at a loss for words, actually, it's just really good and has opened to my eyes to some characteristics on comics I have been re
Got me, I'll fess up (Score:2)
Amusingly enough, I am 99% sure the story submitter found this article via Penny Arcade.
Story Submitter here, and you're absolutely correct. I did indeed find this linked off of PA, and decided to share it here. Got to find them somehow, right? Though I read PA, I'm actually more of a Sluggy Freelance fan, and was much more interested in the comments about that comic than the others.
Still, I'm sort of disap
Some people take things WAY too seriously. (Score:3, Insightful)
It's a comic. It's funny. Ha ha. It's not a "War & Peace" or "Dante's Inferno". There's only so much thought that goes into these things.
Kurtz from PVP is kind of making that point with his strip today.
Just enjoy the funny drawings, people. You don't have to invent hidden meanings and motives behind them.
-geekd
Re:Some people take things WAY too seriously. (Score:3, Informative)
So, its
Re:Some people take things WAY too seriously. (Score:1)
http://malakh.com/ [malakh.com]
http://www.electric-manga.com/ [electric-manga.com]
http://www.9thelsewhere.com/ [9thelsewhere.com]
Normally I'd assume you're speaking about 'strips' like in a newspaper, but megatokyo is up there so... yes there are online comics that could make literature students very very happy. Not a lot of them, and not at Penny Arcade popularity but those of us looking for more then gamer jokes have our communities too.
Re:Some people take things WAY too seriously. (Score:3, Informative)
Then don't criticize it.
You don't have to invent hidden meanings and motives behind them.
That's right, you don't have to invent what's already there. If you don't see these things, fine -- but if you're blind, don't mock the sighted for perceiving things you can't.
Re:Some people take things WAY too seriously. (Score:2)
I've always been easily amused by what's in plain sight. I've never really felt the need or desire to to dig beneath the surface. I just take things at face value and either like 'em or not.
I do feel that there are some things that are better enjoyed in a simple, not analytical way. Humor comics, punk rock, action movies. Start to go too deep and it's not fun anymore.
However, I recognise that just because that works for me, doesn't mean others might not see it that way.
Honestly
gaming webcomic (Score:5, Informative)
Dinosaur Comics! (Score:3, Interesting)
http://www.qwantz.com/ [qwantz.com]
Re:Dinosaur Comics! (Score:2, Insightful)
I love trex and my family is made of meat.
Greatest Sci-fi webcomic ever: (Score:4, Informative)
Seriously, you owe it to yourself to read this. Updates every day, complex plot that still has lots of gags, characters you can really appreciate...there's nothing better in the genre.
Also, for all your D&D-based humor needs: http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscrip
Re:Greatest Sci-fi webcomic ever: (Score:2)
Casey and Andy [galactanet.com]
While the art isn't as polished (although it has gotten a lot better in the last year or so) as some comics, the humor is fantastic. Sort of a goofy-buddy bit, it doesn't have a lot of long story arcs, but has a lot of one-off gags which are pretty damn intellectual. And a lot of slap-stick humor. It's a good, light read.
Nerdcore (Score:2, Redundant)
It starts off with some one-liner comics about sci-fi TV, and after a few strips heads off into an interesting and ongoing plot about a ringworld inhabited by equal parts Shadowrun and equal parts Dungeons and Dragons.
A high pun tolerance would probably be helpful.
Errant Story (Score:1)
http://www.errantstory.com/ [errantstory.com]
It's a rather serious comic (for a webcomic) in a fantasy universe. Interesting world, well thought out story, very good artwork. The best Webcomic I have seen so far.
Also, there doesn't seem to be any mention of userfriendly yet, but I guess that one goes without saying...
Re:Errant Story (Score:2)
Re:Errant Story (Score:2)
Argon Zark (Score:2)
A lot of the interactive stuff has been modified to run as Flash now, but this guy did some pretty amazing stuff with animated images, javascript and other crazy tricks long before Flash made it easy.
Slow Wave (Score:1)
Something Positive (Score:2, Interesting)
Something Positive is done by R K Milholland, who made a offhand comment in response to some complaints about late updates to the effect of 'if you lot donate equal to my salary i'll quit and work on Something Positive solidly for a year'... and was shortly surprised to see that it happened.
Queen of Wands was done by Aeire, and is currently going through ann
Another Recomendation- OotS (Score:1)
Cats (Score:1)
http://www.mows.com/ [mows.com]
Fantastic one
My new filing technique is unstoppable.. (Score:3, Informative)
My new filing technique is unstoppable [mnftiu.cc]
A non-idiotic geek comic (Score:5, Informative)
Spamusement [spamusement.com]: If you don't read it, then you're a worthless excuse for a human being!
Dude. This guy collects spam with amusing subject lines, and he illustrates them in completely unexpected ways. Is that fucking awesome or what?
Furthermore, it's by Steven Frank of Panic, Inc. They make excellent OS X applications. Support him by partaking in his software and/or his funny.
Cyanide and Happiness! (Score:1)
http://www.explosm.net/comics/ [explosm.net]
They're in the middle of two weeks of guest strips though, so you might want to go back a ways before you judge it. Funny, crude humor at it's finest!
Since we're plugging comics... (Score:1)
Check it out: the archives aren't as long as, say, Megatokyo or Penny Arcade, so you don't need to set aside a whole weekend just to figure out what's going on...
PC Weenies? (Score:2)
Re:PC Weenies? (Score:2)
Only the earliest toons (#1 - 20) are in pop-up format, because at the time, I hadn't settled on a regular format. I recommend starting from the latest 'toon and working backwards.
Something Positive (Score:2)
You know what's missing here? (Score:1)
random comics (Score:1)
i've always loved (Score:2)
Tristan A Farnon (Score:1)
In Soviet Russia... (Score:1)
Have to give a plug (Score:1)
How the heck. (Score:2)
Tastes Like Gravel (Score:1)
Do-do-do-do-do-doodly MAAKIES! (Score:2)
Main site:
http://www.maakies.com/ [maakies.com]
Sometimes he goes far afield and does something strange and wonderful:
http://www.maakies.com/archive/m522.gif [maakies.com]
Recent, typically morbid example:
http://www.maakies.com/archive/m553.gif [maakies.com]
More:
http://www.maakies.com/frames/index.html [maakies.com]
Goodbye, foom (Score:2)
Goodbye, foom [livejournal.com]
And then there are some other funny ones:
Niego [niego.org]
Joe and Monkey [joeandmonkey.com]
Ugly Hill [uglyhill.com]
Achewood, another grevious omission (Score:2, Informative)
I'm a longtime fan of Achewood [achewood.com]. It characters are vivid and interesting (like Ray, the millionare playboy cat, and Todd, the drug dealer squirrel), and it also makes really interesting use of the comic medium (for example, Roast Beef, the shy programmer cat, speaks in a smaller font than everyone else). You should definitely check it out. Some choice strips are "Liquor Cabinet Taste Test" [achewood.com] and "Keep on Rockin', Roast Beef" [achewood.com]
Plug: if you like Achewood, you might also like my webcomic, The Mooches [themooches.com].
Alien Loves Predator (Score:3, Informative)
Wonderful stuff.
Jerkcity (Score:1)
Re:Jerkcity (Score:1)
T RANDS CHOKING AND TEACHING ALL AT THE SAME TIME
Another missing one (Score:1)
Apokalupsis Webcomics [apokalupsis.com]
Yet more webcomics: Real Life, PhD, Applegeeks (Score:2)
Still more (Score:2)
What (Score:1)
Dork Tower had to be my favourite (Score:2)
Arrg (Score:2)
Re:Arrg (Score:1)
http://www.gpf-comics.com/ [gpf-comics.com]
snake
Re:Arrg (Score:2)
Re:Shameless plug (Score:1)
Re:Penny Arcade? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Mega tokyo is a great example (Score:3, Insightful)
I wouldn't go so far as to say Fred needs to be hit by a truck, but I would agree that Megatokyo [megatokyo.com] has serious shortfalls, and I'm not talking about the comic moving too slowly, or not being funny enough anymore, which are artistic issues to which the response is "stop reading" (and I have).
The thing that makes me angry is that MT is Fred Gallagher's full-time job, but he still can't manage better than 10% filler [ucam.org].
Re:Mega tokyo is a great example (Score:2)
Re:Mega tokyo is a great example (Score:2)
I'm not worried how long it takes Fred to do a comic, or how meticulous he is, or his dedication to his fans, or how much money he makes, or anything like that. It's the fact that he consistently fails to meet his own deadlines. He isn't doing his job properly, and if he was working for anybody but himself, he would have been fired by now.
If he can't keep up, then whatever the reason, he should ADMIT that he can't and lower his sights a bit, instead of stringing everybody along. For example, if he went to
Re:Mega tokyo is a great example (Score:2)
Re:Mega tokyo is a great example (Score:2)
Truth is, people love a good soap opera, which it is. What's more, I don't think they planned a bait-and-switch (start off as one of the better gaming gag comics and become one of the better melodramas), but it never would have become what it is without it.
And that's really the effect of losing Rodney's writing -- a bait-and-switch.
I happen to like MT still. But it's not the MT that I first liked.